# Sign Regulations in Georgetown Township, Michigan

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Georgetown Township, Michigan, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Georgetown Township, Michigan (MI)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/michigan/georgetown-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-28
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://georgetown.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=Chapter_25_SIGNS)

## At a glance

Georgetown Township, Michigan regulates 35 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Option 2 (Lawful principal uses other than dwellings; non-institutional sites)s in the Residential Zoning Districts (RR, LDR, LMR, MDR, MHR, HDR, MHP) zoning district are capped at ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign tall and 32 sq ft, with a Not nearer to front lot line than 1/2 required front yard; not in required side yard (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) setback (Sec. Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Permanent Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign)). Most commercial signs in Georgetown Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | Not to exceed 10 ft in height (Sec 25.4(3)) | Up to 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (RR, LDR, LMR, MDR, MHR, HDR, MHP) | 9 | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign | 75 sq ft | — |
| Non-Residential Zoning Districts (OS, NS, CS, AG) | 11 | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign | Up to 200 sq ft; limited by 1.5 sq ft/lf of wall | — |
| Non-Residential Zoning Districts (HS, I) | 13 | ≤35 ft (measured to lower of road grade or surface grade beneath the sign) | Sign panel area ≤300 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development | 2 | Freestanding ≤6 ft and ≤42 in above mean grade; Wall ≤10 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per lot; special cases per Sec 25.4 | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts (RR, LDR, LMR, MDR, MHR, HDR, MHP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | One per dwelling unit or business | — | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Identification Sign); Sec 25.9(2)(3) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 (Lawful principal uses other than dwellings; non-institutional sites) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Not located nearer to the front lot line than one-half of the required front yard setback nor located in the required side yard (applies to the row’s signs) (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) | One per lot (or one per eligible frontage on specified streets per Chapter 24 footnote (B)) | Must front the principal street if practicable; flat against building (general wall sign practice; see Sec 25.2(18)) | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Permanent Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign); Sec 25.2(18); Sec 25.7 |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Option 2 (Lawful principal uses other than dwellings; non-institutional sites) | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign | 32 sq ft | — | Not nearer to front lot line than 1/2 required front yard; not in required side yard (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) | One per lot (or per eligible frontage) | — | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Permanent Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Option 3 (Lawful principal uses other than dwellings; non-institutional sites) | ≤4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Not nearer to front lot line than 1/2 required front yard; not in required side yard (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) | One per lot (or per eligible frontage) | — | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Permanent Wall Sign or Freestanding Sign) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Institutional Sites | ≤6 ft above mean grade | 75 sq ft | — | At least 25 ft from all property and right-of-way lines or other distance per Chapter 24 footnote (B) (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) | One per lot (or one per eligible frontage) | Institutional sites (libraries, schools, community centers, religious institutions, similar) (Sec 25.6 Residential Table) | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Institutional sites row) |
| Plat Entry Sign | ≤3 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line or right-of-way line or as required per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | Two per road entrance | At road entrance(s) to subdivisions, mobile home parks, multiple-family developments | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Plat Entry Signs) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | Set back at least 10 ft from road right-of-way or distance required in Chapter 24 footnote (B) | One per lot per display period (max three display periods per calendar year) | — | — | Sec 25.6(4) Residential Table (Portable Signs) |
| Temporary Signs (Residential) | Freestanding: ≤6 ft and ≤42 inches above mean grade of yard; Wall: ≤10 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per lot; specific cases as in Sec 25.4 | — | 10 ft from property lines; ≥20 ft from roadway edge (Sec 25.4(10)) | Per Sec 25.4 special cases | Not in ROW; general setbacks apply | — | Sec 25.4; Sec 25.6 Residential Table (Temporary Signs) |

### Non-Residential Zoning Districts (OS, NS, CS, AG)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Single Business | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign | 75 sq ft per side | — | Must not extend over ROW nor setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | One per business (or one per eligible frontage) | Shall not extend over the road right-of-way nor over the distance from which a required setback is measured as required in Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Business Center | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | As above | One per eligible frontage for the business center | Must not extend over ROW nor setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign; Business Center provision) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Single Business | ≤4 ft (from mean grade) | 50 sq ft per side | — | ≥15 ft from road ROW and from setback measurement distance per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | One per business (or per eligible frontage) | Set back a minimum of 15 ft from the road right-of-way and from the distance from which a required setback is measured as required in Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Business Center | ≤4 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | As above | One per eligible frontage | Set back ≥15 ft from road ROW and from setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table |
| Permanent Wall Sign - With Freestanding Sign(s) Present | — | Up to 200 sq ft; limited by 1.5 sq ft/lf of wall | — | — | One per business per street frontage; may be split into two signs with combined area ≤75% of permitted | Placed flat against building and shall front on the principal street | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Sign) |
| Permanent Wall Sign - Additional Upon Elimination of Freestanding Sign | — | ≤75% of square footage permitted for the freestanding sign | — | — | One additional wall sign upon elimination of freestanding sign | Placed flat against building and shall front on the principal street | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Sign; elimination provision) |
| Permanent Wall Sign - Canopy Fascia (Uses with Permitted Freestanding Canopies) | — | 10 sq ft per canopy fascia side | — | — | One per street-facing canopy fascia side | On canopy fascia; street-facing sides only | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Signs – Canopy) |
| Temporary Signs (Nonresidential) | Freestanding ≤6 ft and ≤42 in above mean grade; Wall ≤10 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per lot; special cases per Sec 25.4 | — | 10 ft from property lines; ≥20 ft from roadway edge (Sec 25.4(10)) | Per Sec 25.4 special cases | Not in ROW; general setbacks apply | — | Sec 25.4; Sec 25.6 OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Temporary Signs) |

### Non-Residential Zoning Districts (HS, I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Single Business | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft from ground to bottom of sign | 75 sq ft per side | — | Must not extend over ROW nor setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | One per business (or one per eligible frontage) | Shall not extend over the road right-of-way nor over the distance from which a required setback is measured as required in Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Pole-mounted) - Business Center | ≤25 ft; clear space ≥8 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | As above | One per eligible frontage for the business center | Must not extend over ROW nor setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign; Business Center provision) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Single Business | ≤4 ft (from mean grade) | 50 sq ft per side | — | ≥15 ft from road ROW and from setback measurement distance per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | One per business (or per eligible frontage) | Set back a minimum of 15 ft from the road right-of-way and from the distance from which a required setback is measured as required in Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Freestanding Sign) |
| Permanent Freestanding Sign (Ground-mounted) - Business Center | ≤4 ft | 50 sq ft per side | — | As above | One per eligible frontage | Set back ≥15 ft from road ROW and from setback measurement line per Chapter 24 footnote (B) | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table |
| Permanent Wall Sign - With Freestanding Sign(s) Present | — | Up to 200 sq ft; limited by 1.5 sq ft/lf of wall | — | — | One per business per street frontage; may be split into two signs with combined area ≤75% of permitted | Placed flat against building and shall front on the principal street | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Sign) |
| Permanent Wall Sign - Additional Upon Elimination of Freestanding Sign | — | ≤75% of square footage permitted for the freestanding sign | — | — | One additional wall sign upon elimination of freestanding sign | Placed flat against building and shall front on the principal street | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Sign; elimination provision) |
| Permanent Wall Sign - Canopy Fascia (Uses with Permitted Freestanding Canopies) | — | 10 sq ft per canopy fascia side | — | — | One per street-facing canopy fascia side | On canopy fascia; street-facing sides only | — | Sec 25.6(4) OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Permanent Wall Signs – Canopy) |
| Temporary Signs (Nonresidential) | Freestanding ≤6 ft and ≤42 in above mean grade; Wall ≤10 ft | Aggregate 32 sq ft per lot; special cases per Sec 25.4 | — | 10 ft from property lines; ≥20 ft from roadway edge (Sec 25.4(10)) | Per Sec 25.4 special cases | Not in ROW; general setbacks apply | — | Sec 25.4; Sec 25.6 OS/NS/CS/AG Table (Temporary Signs) |

## Prohibited signs in Georgetown Township

- Signs not specifically permitted by this Chapter or Code are prohibited.
- Signs located in, projecting into, or overhanging a public right-of-way or dedicated public easement are prohibited, except government-established or required signs (including Township banners, directional signs, and plat entry signs).
- Abandoned signs must be removed within 90 days of cessation of the business, use, or activity.
- Any sign structure that no longer conveys a message or contains a sign is prohibited.
- Rotating or moving signs in which the sign itself or any portion of the sign moves in a revolving or similar manner are prohibited (excluding permitted methods of changing copy).
- Vehicles or trailers parked or located for the primary function of acting as a sign or billboard are prohibited.
- Rope lights, string lights, or similar lighting attached to, surrounding, or drawing attention to a sign are prohibited.
- Snipe signs (signs posted on trees, utility poles, traffic signs, etc.) are prohibited.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals are prohibited.
- Portable freestanding or temporary signs are prohibited except where expressly permitted in this Chapter.
- Any sign that obstructs free access to or egress from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exit is prohibited.
- Any sign that uses words or symbols such as “Stop,” “Look,” or “Danger,” in a manner that interferes with, misleads, or confuses drivers is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs on street furniture (benches and trash receptacles) are prohibited, except commemorative plaques or engravings not larger than 0.5 square foot.
- Commercial messages on directional signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signs are prohibited unless expressly permitted in this Chapter (e.g., billboards under Section 25.12).
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs that are otherwise unlawful under county, state, or federal law are prohibited.
- Signs that constitute a trespass or are installed on the property of another without permission are prohibited.
- Signs that advertise or promote a use of property that is unlawful or prohibited under local, state, or federal law are prohibited.
- No flashing, strobe, moving, oscillating, or intermittent illumination of any sign is allowed, except time-and-temperature signs that have no other intermittent illuminated message.
- Illuminated signs are prohibited within 100 feet of any residential use or dwelling.
- Sign illumination that is detrimental or unreasonably annoying to occupants of adjoining property or that constitutes a safety hazard is prohibited.
- For changeable copy, digital, LED, or similar signs, fading, scrolling, or animated transitions are prohibited.
- No sign may be constructed, displayed, or located so that it is unsafe or creates a hazard for vehicle or pedestrian traffic, interferes with or is confused with authorized traffic control devices, or is distracting to motorists or pedestrians.
- Erecting, altering, moving, modifying, or constructing any sign requiring a permit without first obtaining the permit constitutes a violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Georgetown Township

- Directional signs, street signs, traffic control signs, and other signs when erected, maintained, or posted by the Township, County, State, or Federal government (permit exempt in all districts).
- Directional signs on private property not exceeding 4 square feet in area (permit exempt in all districts).
- Identification signs not exceeding 1 square foot in area per sign, limited to one identification sign per dwelling unit or business (permit exempt in all districts).
- Governmental flags displaying the name, insignia, emblem, or logo of any nation, state, municipality, or governmental branch or agency (permit exempt in all districts).
- Legal notices required to be posted by a court or governmental agency or by statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation (permit exempt in all districts).
- Signs required by federal, state, or local law to warn of danger or to prohibit access are permit exempt so long as they do not exceed 1 square foot per sign, or the minimum size required by the applicable law, whichever is smaller.
- Temporary signs permitted under Section 25.4 are exempt from permitting (as specified) in all districts.
- Signs on the interior of buildings are permit exempt in all districts.
- Signs not visible from any adjacent right-of-way that do not exceed 32 square feet in area are permit exempt in all districts.
- Official historic designation markers and plaques are permit exempt in all districts.
- Home occupation signs permitted under Section 3.24 are permit exempt in all districts.
- Properly licensed auto dealerships and properly licensed used car lots may place signs on motor vehicles offered for sale or trade on the dealership lot (permit exempt in all districts).
- A change solely in the wording of the copy of a sign or billboard does not require a sign permit unless the change results in reclassification to a different or more restrictive type, or the business/use on the lot changes causing such reclassification.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or general sign plan requirement is stated in Chapter 25 for signs.
- Billboard sign permit applications must include a site plan indicating the billboard location and appropriate setback information, a colored rendering with proposed dimensions, illumination details (if applicable), and signatures of the applicant and property owner.
- Signs in a Planned Unit Development must comply with the regulations for the most similar zoning district and may be subject to conditions approved under Chapter 22; Chapter 25 does not specify a master sign plan requirement for PUD signage.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 5 zoning districts in Georgetown Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Georgetown+Township+MI&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-georgetown-township

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